Living Life and the Struggle for Virtue

Tab McKenzie

Description

This book is about the PURPOSE of our existence and how to possibly live your life well. It is about Godly priorities and being CONTENT with your life.

A once famous philosopher named Montaigne warned that using oneself as the subject to write about is only pardonable when the person is famous and exceptional, and I am certainly not. However, I was motivated to write this book to relieve my conscience by sharing some of my most private thoughts about some of life’s most important topics with my family and friends since I failed to communicate with them adequately in person on these matters. It has always been easier for me to express such intimate thoughts in writing. Since I am now in my last stage of living life, I thought it was time to share my thoughts on what I believe is most important in living life and that is Religion, Philosophy (how to live life well), and Politics. I don’t believe that politics is that important to living a good life, but it has become such a divisive force in our world that I decided it was worth discussing.



There are many writers and speakers concerning these topics that I have observed and contemplated over my many years. But my book relies heavily on the teachings of Jesus regarding my religious beliefs and the philosopher Montaigne in my discussion on living life well (or better). In the POLITICS section of the book, I highlight my thoughts and beliefs about the priorities, values, and perspective a Christian should consider when engaging in the political process.



The essence of my book is to highlight my belief about what is the PURPOSE of our existence. I think most people are seeking the answer to this question--- For me, it is the struggle for Virtue.

Sujets

• Philosophie
• Philosophie de la religion
• Religion
• Christianisme
• Christian
• Michel de Montaigne
• Philosophie et théologie
• Personal Growth
• Christian Living

Informations

• Publié par: WestBow Press
• Date de parution: 09 mai 2023
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781664296558
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 1 Mo

Extrait

LIVING LIFE AND THE STRUGGLE FOR VIRTUE
TAB MCKENZIE


Copyright © 2023 Tab McKenzie.
 
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
 
 
WestBow Press
A Division of Thomas Nelson & Zondervan
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Bloomington, IN 47403
www.westbowpress.com
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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.
 
Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.
Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.
 
Scripture quotations are taken from the New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.
 
ISBN: 978-1-6642-9653-4 (sc)
ISBN: 978-1-6642-9652-7 (hc)
ISBN: 978-1-6642-9655-8 (e)
 
Library of Congress Control Number: 2023906215
 
 
 
WestBow Press rev. date: 04/19/2023
Contents
Introduction
Thoughts on Religion
Thoghts On Living Life (With Some Philosophy) From Montaigne and Me
Politics
In Conclusion
Introduction
I decided to write this book because of my daughter. She has a strong interest in her family heritage and is always asking me questions and sending me information about our family tree and history. For many years she has asked my parents and my sisters about the family tree and our McKenzie heritage. She sent me an outline of questions which would provide the story of my family and the knowledge of the circumstances and significant events of my life. She encouraged me to have her grandpa (at the time my 92-year-old Dad) complete the form as well. I retired in 2021 and had been considering recording and writing the life stories of people in my small town who I thought might have an interesting story to tell, but for different reasons that has not panned out. Then, I thought of recording my Dad’s story. But, as of this writing, I have not completed that objective either.
I have no delusions about people being interested in this book, even my own family and friends will likely get bored with it soon after beginning to read it. A once famous philosopher named Montaigne warned within his Essays (his thoughts on living) that using oneself as the subject to write about is only pardonable when the person is famous and exceptional, and I am certainly not. I admit this to be true and few will likely give this book more than a glance (if that) considering my common and rather ordinary existence. However, I am motivated about this project in order to relieve my conscience by sharing some of my most private thoughts about some of life’s most important topics with my children and grandchildren since I failed to communicate with them adequately in person on these matters. It is always easier perhaps to express one’s most intimate thoughts in writing versus the usual discomforting and awkward experience of doing it in person.
These thoughts and circumstances got me thinking of what my own children and grandchildren might like to know about me once I am no longer on this earth. As a child and for most of my years as an adult, I am ashamed to admit that I did not have a keen interest in my parent’s life prior to my existence. They would occasionally mention things they experienced growing up or about their life (before me), but I really didn’t express or pursue an interest in the details. I wasn’t as interested in their history (as I should have been all along) until my daughter started telling me stories about my parents that I was not familiar with, and then my interest in their life stories became of stronger interest to me. Unfortunately, this new found curiosity happened to me after my Mom was suffering from early stages of dementia, and then she passed away on December 1, of 2020. Yet, my Dad still has a sharp mind and I intend to get him started very soon in the writing of his story utilizing my daughter’s template she has provided to me. With the passing of my Mom, Dad needs purpose in his life and telling his story would be good for him and extremely valuable to his family for future generations. Interestingly, he has evolved into an avid reader and goes to the public library in town once or twice a week (on his own-he still drives) to check out books. I try to visit him almost every day to check on him and to encourage him to have conversation. Sometimes he has days in which he talks a lot and others he simply answers my questions succinctly. On those days he is in the mood to talk, he tells me stories about things that have happened to him or that he observed at some time in his life (often before me) that I have never heard before. Also, he talks to me about the books he reads. My Dad has a much more interesting life story to tell than I do, and I am very proud of my Dad and the life he has led! He is a Hero in my life. I just wish I had realized it sooner. I am determined to get my Dad to record his life story.
My life story and experiences are not nearly as interesting as my own parents and many other of my relatives, but for my kids and grandkids sake, I intend to complete the life story template my daughter has provided--- Just in case it is of any interest to my family and descendants. But what I really want to write for my children and grandchildren (and descendants) as I have entered the last stage of life (Retired and Senior Citizen status) is a book on my observations, thoughts, and feelings about the subjects of greatest interest to me: religion, how to best live life (philosophy), and politics. These are the subjects which most of humanity has demonstrated the greatest of love, enthusiasm, and passion for. And unfortunately, this same humanity has demonstrated the greatest division, destruction, and strife regarding two of these subjects, politics and religion.
It’s important to me to share my observations, experiences, and thoughts on living life and my own struggle and pursuit of trying to attain virtue. I have always found human thought and behavior to be extremely interesting to study and contemplate.
It has occurred to me that in the pursuit of living my own life, that I have possibly failed my own children in sharing adequately my views on these subjects with them as they were growing up. It is no excuse, but in the pursuit of my own ambitions in my chosen profession, in my quest for my own knowledge of these subjects, in pursuing my own happiness and financial security for my family, I have likely neglected to adequately share my own views on these very important and interesting subjects. For this I am ashamed and very sorry. However, I still have life and wit, and so I will now do my best to make some amends for my prior neglect of duty.
In writing about my thoughts on living life and observing human behavior (including my own actions and personal thoughts), I will borrow from a few key authors, philosophers, and other great thinkers. There are many authors and thinkers who have interested and influenced me to various extent in my life and I won’t even try to mention them all. There have been a few which I will mention who have had a profound influence on my life and my thinking on these most important of topics. First and foremost, Jesus Christ. I consider myself a Christian, even though I feel I have mostly underperformed in that role. I am trying to make up for a lot of lost time in acting as a proper Christian, and one of the reasons for this book is to strongly encourage my family and descendants to put God and Jesus first in your life as early in life as possible. I have a deep and abiding respect for young people who become committed spiritually at an early age and strive for that eternal reward every day with purpose, love, and devotion. I discovered late in my life that being a good Christion (and a “good person”) is foundational to happiness and contentment in this earthly life. I also believe I would have been a lot more successful in this secular life (but that is of secondary importance and has little to no correlation in getting to heaven). I will try and define what I mean about success later (if I don’t forget- Lol). My religious views will also reflect some thoughts from the minister and author John Stott. I have read Stott’s book on the greatest sermon ever; the sermon by Jesus called “The Sermon on the Mount.” The essence of my religious beliefs is from this sermon, and I will share my thoughts on this sermon and its super significance to being a good Christian.
Few of my thoughts in this book can be considered original, if actually any are original. As said previously, my feelings and beliefs about humanity (and my own) are a lifetime collection of reading, listening, observing, and reflecting. Since I have retired, I have a lot more time for reflecting. My political views will reflect a collage of observations, readings, and thinking from many sources. I have voted for politicians of both major parties. I am not a lifetime member of either political party having identified as both a Democrat and a Republican in my lifetime. I have swung back and forth like a pendulum over the years depending on the person and the circumstances at any given time. Maybe I just can’t make up my mind or perhaps, I am just somewhere in the